Acrobat/website integration

November 6, 2006 2:49 PM

Open a .pdf to a page?

I have a bunch of data on a website, which corresponds to information in .pdf files. The information makes much more sense in the context of the .pdfs.

How can I link from my site to a particular page of a .pdf file?
Is there any way to get tighter integration between a .pdf and a website than simply shell executing Acrobat? For example: could I display web content in one 'frame' and PDF content in another?
If I wanted to learn more about Acrobat integration into sites, what's the best resource?

Thanks in advance!

posted by daver to computers & internet (6 comments total)

Here's an example:

http://partners.adobe.com/public/developer/en/acrobat/PDFOpenParameters.pdf#page=8

By the way, that PDF linked contains other URL parameters you might find useful.

You can always display web content in one frame and PDF content in another, but I'm guessing having both make up one seamless web experience might be difficult (I'm no expert, though, so take that with a grain of salt)
posted by em3 at 3:03 PM on November 6, 2006

Excellent. How about searching for a string in a .PDF on open?
posted by daver at 7:31 PM on November 6, 2006

http://partners.adobe.com/public/developer/en/acrobat/PDFOpenParameters.pdf#search=string

(See page 7 of that document for details.)
posted by mbrubeck at 8:03 PM on November 6, 2006

Addressing your second question: Some Firefox users and most Safari users will see PDF files downloaded to a user directory rather than displayed in the target browser window. If you don't have to worry about that, you can use a PDF file in pretty much any browser window or frame you can an HTML file.

Sometimes treating PDF files in this way is a reasonable option, particularly in intranet sites, but my knee jerks when I see PDF files used as enhanced web pages. I'm old, and I don't like full-frame Flash either. Kids these days. Sheesh.
posted by ardgedee at 3:06 AM on November 7, 2006

These tricks don't work with OS X's built-in PDF/image viewer, Preview (Safari, viewing in browser window).
posted by Well that's a lie at 5:22 AM on November 7, 2006

Duh, don't know how I missed page 7 (well, I know but I'm unwilling to admit to laziness and stupiditiy in such a large forum). FYI: this is an intranet site, I wouldn't inflict such evils on the world at large.

Thanks all for the tips!
posted by daver at 9:06 AM on November 7, 2006